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World Cup final means 'everything' to Kookaburras

THE HAGUE - Australia say the opportunity to defend their hockey World Cup title means everything, after advancing with an utterly dominant 5-1 trouncing of Argentina.

The victory gives Ric Charlesworth's men the chance to defend the title they claimed in India four years ago - but the overwhelming orange explosion that is the Netherlands looms large ahead of Sunday's final.

"The Oranje" struggled through their semi-final, beating England 1-0, but Charlesworth and his team are aware that the partisan 15,000-strong crowd that will descend on The Hague will provide a significant advantage to the home side.

"It's why we train so much and work so hard together. To get the chance to win another World Cup.

"(Finals) don't come around that often. You're lucky if you can go to one. You're super lucky if you can get to another.

"It means everything. I'm pretty proud to be able to come back here again and play in another World Cup final."

A day after their female counterparts reached the final with a thrilling shootout victory over the United States, Australia's men provided no heart attacks as they carried on their superb form to remain unbeaten this tournament.

The match was all but decided by halftime, after a near-flawless 35 minutes that delivered three goals for Australia and zero shots on goal for Argentina.

Australia were nearly as impressive after the break, adding a further two goals while conceding one - just their second goal conceded all tournament.

"We pride ourselves on the quality of our defence and it's a critical part of winning big matches," the notoriously hard to impress Charlesworth said.

"we lost our focus near the end, which is always a worry."

After just four minutes Kieran Govers had opened the scoring from a penalty corner with his fourth goal of the tournament, continuing Australia's terrific record of striking early - it was the fifth consecutive game in which they'd scored in the opening seven minutes.

Australia continued to press and a second goal was delivered when Govers earned a penalty corner - and Jeremy Hayward drilled home the first of his two goals.

By the time young gun Jacob Whetton produced a sensational reverse stick strike to stretch the advantage to three goals, with halftime in sight, the result was virtually assured.

Not even a green card, and two-minute sin bin, to Australia's five-time player-of-the-year Jamie Dwyer could stop the slaughter.

Dwyer was accused of "taking the mickey" by umpire Hamish Jamson, and was punished for time-wasting after denying Argentina the opportunity to take a quick free hit early in the second half.

Australia rammed home their advantage with Chris Ciriello and Hayward again converting penalty corners as the lead ballooned, before Gonzalo Peillat grabbed a consolation goal.

Playing in his first World Cup, Hayward couldn't hide his excitement at reaching a final.

"My first World Cup and we're in the grand final against the home team. It's going to be an incredible experience," he told AAP.